"Pete C." wrote in message
...
Eigenvector wrote:

So me and my wiring instructor buddy are down in the basement clipping
the
romex that powers the basement. I'm about to rewire the whole thing and
add
an additional circuit - so we shut off the breaker and clipped the wires
to
make demolition easier.

Anyway we get to one notorious section of my basement where the empty but
powered light sockets hang down from the splice in the wire. My buddy is
curious about how the splice was done, and taking a knife proceeds to
unwind
the electricians tape from the splice. Turns out the original installer
simply stripped a section of the original hot wire of insulation - about
4
inches worth, then wound the hot wire of the socket around the bare
wire -
and covered it with electricians tape. The same was done with the
neutral
wire. Keep in mind, he didn't cut the wire, he simply removed the
insulation (how I don't know). The socket wire, strand type, was only
losely wound around the bare copper wire.

He did suspend the wire from the wall by using a bent finishing nail (and
nicked the Romex in the process). I'll be grateful when the rewire is
done,
all it would take is for one spider to call that place home and that'd be
all she wrote.

I guess this is why the inspection process is so important, and one of
the
reasons why I'm having mine inspected before closing up the wall. No
need
to leave the next owner a ticking time bomb.

A previous owner of my current house did some similar "quality" work. He
happened to work for the electric utility too, kinda figures they
wouldn't have a clue how to wire a house. I've replaced pretty much all
of it along with the panels in the shop and house all with top grade
materials and done properly. No inspections here though as I'm outside
city limits.

Pete C.

I'm outside city limits too, but for me the dangers of bad electrical work
are too dire to not have the inspector brought in. At least I don't have to
pay for a permit - all I'm doing is updating existing circuits.